Living With Wildfire
In rural, forested areas of Eastern Washington fire is a natural part of the environment. But as more people move out into the rural areas the potential impacts of fire on people and property increases. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help protect your home and property and reduce the damage to your forestland.
Making Your Home Safer from Fire
Create a defensible space
Defensible space is a buffer around your home designed to reduce the chance of a fire reaching it. To create this zone you will need to remove piles of debris near your house and landscape in such a way as to decrease the amount of flammable vegetation close to the home. Within 100 feet of your house, landscape with native plants and mow lawn areas regularly. Thin and prune trees near your house, removing limbs that overhang your chimney. Keep your roof cleared of twigs and needles. Stack firewood and combustible materials well away from buildings. Do not abut a fence made of wood or other flammable material to a house, outbuilding, or propane tank. These structures can act as a fire corridor directing flames to the building.
Make sure firefighters can get to you. Make sure your address is easily visible for firefighters. Put address sign up with 4” or larger reflective numbers. If necessary, clear your driveway so it is wide enough for a fire truck to enter and turn around. It may not be possible for firefighters to defend your home without good access, an adequate escape route, and defensible space around the home.
Stop sparks before they become fire. Screens on your chimney will help contain burning embers. Place screens on your home vents to block burning embers from approaching wildfires. When it's time, consider replacing your roof with one made of fire-resistant materials. Face exposed decks, porches, or foundations with skirting. Keep a hose and fire tools readily accessible year round, especially when you burn debris. Store hoses in well-insulated locations to avoid freezing. Make sure spark arresters on lawn mowers, chainsaws, weed-eaters, and other gas powered equipment are in place and functioning properly.
Reducing Fire Risk on Your Woodland
Thinning your woodland. Many forests in eastern Washington are overcrowded. Growing too close together causes stressed and unhealthy trees which are more vulnerable to crown fires. When the crowns of adjoining trees touch or are so close together they form contiguous fuel ladder, fire can spread quickly through the canopy. Thinning your woodlands can be very effective in reducing fire risk, especially when combined with the removal of ladder-fuels, pruning, and slash treatments. However, thinning should be done only between August and December to avoid creating habitat for the Ips. Beetle --a native bark beetle that overwinters in slash and duff on the forest floor. The adult beetles become active in the late winter and seek out fresh slash and trees damaged by ice, wind, or snow. So it is best not to provide any fresh green slash from winter through late summer.
Photo by: Andy Perleberg, Washington State University Extension
For burning on the improved areas of your property (yard and garden) contact the Department of Ecology or Spokane Clean Air in Spokane County.
For burning on the forested areas of your property, contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Learn more about reducing the risk of fire to your home
Living with Fire: A guide for homeowners
Landscaping for Fire Prevention
Fire-resistant home construction
Photo: Bugwood.org
Spread the word to your neighbors. Neighbors working together can create better fire safety than individuals working alone. Ask your neighbors to join you in helping to make your neighborhood FireSafe.
Check for neighborhood hazards such as hazard trees or limbs which could fall and break power lines. Notify your power company of potential hazards.
Keep fire safety equipment readily accessible inside and outside your home. Make sure the home has operable smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Have fire tools and a connected hose readily at hand outside. Make sure all family members know where this equipment is and how to summon help in event of a fire.
Remove ladder fuels. In un-thinned forest stands there are often many little trees in the understory. These small trees act as a “ladder” for fire and help carry it up into the crowns of bigger trees. Once a fire travels into the crown tree death almost always occurs. These ladder fuels should be removed through thinning.
Pruning. Tree branches that hang low to the ground are another kind of ladder fuel. Pruning the lower branches of your trees can reduce fire hazard while improving aesthetics and timber quality. Increasing the distance between the ground and the lowest branches reduces the likelihood that a fire will move from the ground into the crown of a tree.
Treat slash. Slash is created after many forest management activities, such as pruning and thinning. Left on the ground, slash can increase the risk and spread of wildfire. Treating slash usually involves burning in piles or chipping. Many landfills offer designated days when yard debris can be disposed of for little or no cost. If you choose to burn, check local regulations regarding permit requirements and “burn ban” restrictions.
To learn more:
Heading using the h3tag
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.